Ty Simpson started the 2025 season, his first as the starting quarterback at Alabama, running for his life against Florida State, and three months later, it was the same story against Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.
In between those two brutal performances for the Alabama offense were 12 weeks of brilliant play, big-time throws, elite pre-snap management, and quick post-snap processing. 12 weeks (give or take) of NFL-caliber quarterback play to carry the Crimson Tide to the SEC Title Game and elevate himself into the first-round conversation for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Now, after a 19-for-39 performance for 212 yards and one touchdown with one interception in a 28-7 loss to Georgia, the redshirt junior might be playing himself back to Alabama for his final year of eligibility.
Simpson’s small sample size could scare off the NFL after ugly SEC Championship Game
In fairness, Simpson’s poor performance in the SEC Championship wasn’t all on him. Alabama finished with -3 rushing yards, partially due to the team’s complete inability to move the ball on the ground and partially due to its offensive line’s inability to protect. His receivers were rarely open, and he didn’t have much time to throw, but when he did, it still wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t the same player who jumped all over Georgia in the first half in Week 5. It also wasn’t the first time this has happened.
Simpson’s interception on Saturday was just his fifth of the year to 26 touchdowns, but his six fumbles have also been problematic. He’s typically navigated pressure well this season, standing in the pocket to deliver downfield with anticipation and accuracy. Yet, Georgia seemed to have him rattled, not just running for his life but missing open receivers and triggering late on throws over the middle of the field.
Simpson has done a lot to carry the Alabama offense, but some of his recent performances, including a bizarre two-interception outing against Eastern Illinois, have likely set off red flags in front offices of quarterback-needy teams in the NFL.
NFL decision-makers are typically scared off of quarterbacks who haven’t started more than one season. It’s too important a decision to make based on such a small sample size. Had Simpson maintained his stellar play, particularly despite Alabama’s offensive deficiencies, at least a few teams would have overlooked his lack of experience in the first round. Now, it’s getting much more difficult to.
It could be in Simpson’s best interest to return to Alabama for his redshirt senior season, put another 12-16 games of quality play on film, and cash in for his major NFL payday in the spring of 2027. Even with five-star freshman Keelon Russell waiting in the wings, that’d certainly be in Simpson’s best interest.
Still, Drew Allar, Cade Klubnik, and Garrett Nussmeier are all cautionary tales as that group of veterans played themselves out of being highly drafted after forgoing the 2025 NFL Draft and returning for their final collegiate seasons.
Simpson will have a tough decision to make in a few weeks, and it’s a decision that will shape Alabama’s offseason in a major way.